He straightened up and gestured toward Bianca with an open, welcoming hand.
At that moment, Bianca began to rethink her initial view of Lucas, which had been shaped by Dave’s descriptions.
He seemed more approachable than she had expected.
She looked up at Dave, who stood just behind her, his hand resting protectively on her shoulder.
While his presence made her feel safe, it also triggered an uncomfortable feeling inside her.
The lingering resentment in her heart made it hard to trust him completely.
Dave had deceived her before, and she was still figuring out how to handle their strained relationship.
Wanting some space, she subtly stepped away, slipping out from under his hand.
Dave’s hand, briefly suspended in the air, eventually dropped as the light in his eyes faded.
They followed Franklin into the gathering.
Once they were out of Lucas’s sight, Dave turned to Franklin and said, “I’ll take Bianca around. You can go do your thing.”
Franklin looked at both of them, then nodded respectfully. “Of course.”
He slowly walked away.
Dave guided Bianca to a table, picked up a bottle of red wine, and poured two glasses. He handed one to Bianca. “My grandpa really chose a great wine. This is La Romanee-Conti. You missed it last time at Joshua’s. You should try it now.”
Bianca remembered the last time at Joshua’s when Joshua teased her and Dave about the La Romanee-Conti red wine.
Dave had then revealed that Joshua’s bottle was a fake.
She had been curious about how Dave knew so much back then, but he gave her a vague excuse that she believed without question.
Now, she felt foolish for not questioning him.
With a small, wry smile, Bianca took the glass from Dave and looked into his eyes. Her stare was cold, distant, and lacking in warmth.
“Mr. Evans,” she said, her voice more formal now. “I didn’t come here to interrupt the celebration. I have something important to discuss with you.”
Dave’s brow furrowed.
Bianca calling him “Mr. Evans” instead of “Dave” made him uncomfortable. It made the tension in their relationship clear.
“Bianc…”
Bianca’s cold voice interrupted him. “Do you remember promising to return Cherish to my mother when she woke up? Even though the CEO I met wasn’t you, I believe it was your order.”
Bianca was now sure that the CEO she had met was a fake, put in place by Dave to hide his true identity. He had gone to great lengths to deceive her.
“Of course, I remember,” Dave said, his heart heavy as he spoke.
Bianca looked up at him. “She’s awake now.”
“Your mother is awake?” Dave’s eyes brightened.
“When?” he asked.
“A few days ago,” she replied. “I went to Phoenix Alliance Group to find you, but you didn’t see me.”
Suddenly, it hit Dave that Skylar had called about Bianca’s visit. He had brushed it off as a test and hadn’t taken it seriously. Later, the receptionist confirmed there was no record.
So, she really did visit…
“That was actually…”
“Doesn’t matter,” Bianca cut him off, her eyes distant. “Since I couldn’t see you, I came here. Will you honor your promise?”
Seeing her clear intention, Dave took out his phone and dialed a number, placing it on speaker.
A familiar voice came through the phone.
“Dave, what’s wrong?” It was Justin.
Bianca looked at Dave, surprised.
Dave kept his eyes on Bianca as he spoke into the phone. “Justin, Bianca’s mother is awake.”
“Wow! That’s fantastic!” Justin’s response surprised Bianca.
“You don’t know how much effort I’ve put into keeping Cherish’s reputation,” Justin said, a mix of frustration and pride in his voice. “I got a few top designers to keep the brand going. The last launch wasn’t a huge success, but it did okay. The market still trusts Cherish.”
He wasn’t just helping Dave. He also wanted to support Bianca in preserving her mother’s legacy.
“But let’s be honest,” Justin admitted, “these designers can’t compare to Madison. Cherish is still in luxury, but it’s not what it used to be. Now that Madison’s awake, Cherish can get back to its glory. The chairperson’s role has always been hers. She can come back and take full control.”
“That’s great. Thanks for your hard work, Justin.”
“Relax a bit. The formal tone feels strange coming from you.”
“Then get used to it. I have other matters to attend to. Later.”
A smile tugged at Dave’s lips as he hung up the phone.
No more words were needed. His actions had answered Bianca’s question clearly.
Bianca’s eyes were still trembling. Dave hadn’t lied. He’d kept his promise, protecting Madison’s position and securing Cherish’s place in the luxury market.
She now understood that Skylar had been behind the scenes when Dave refused to meet her, leading to the misunderstanding on her part.
A mix of emotions flooded Bianca. She felt thankful toward Dave and Justin but still held some resentment.
Dave had been the CEO of Phoenix Alliance Group all along, and he hid this important fact from her. If it weren’t for tonight, she might never have known.
Putting her feelings aside, Bianca simply said, “Thank you.”
Dave smiled gently and raised his glass. “Will you join me for a drink?”
Bianca glanced at him briefly before looking away. She nodded slightly and quickly finished her glass.
Meanwhile, Franklin watched from the shadows. Dave, who was staying close to Bianca, was getting in the way of his plans. He needed a distraction to pull Dave away.
A sly grin spread across his face as an idea came to him.
Franklin walked up to Dave and Bianca, nodding to Bianca before turning to Dave with a friendly smile. “Sir, your grandpa urgently needs to see you,” he said.
Dave’s curiosity grew, and he asked, “What’s going on?”
With a serious look, Franklin answered, “You’ll understand when you get there. He just said it’s urgent. It’s better if you go alone.”
Dave hesitated, clearly concerned about leaving Bianca.
Even though his grandfather was kind to her, he still felt anxious about leaving her by herself.
Seeing his hesitation, Franklin added, “If you’re worried about Miss Scott, I can make sure she gets back to your room to rest.”
Dave briefly glanced at Franklin, showing a hint of hesitation.
Before he could speak, Bianca smoothly interrupted, “Since your grandpa’s request is urgent, you should go. I’m feeling a bit tired and could use some rest.”
The lively party atmosphere did nothing to lift Bianca’s mood.
Staying here only made her feel worse. She just wanted to leave the ship as soon as possible tomorrow.